Methods and apparatus for reclaiming components of concrete and other slurries

Abstract

A reclamation system for the recycling of components of fluid concrete (such as concrete fines) and for concrete plant wastewater includes a slurry batch supply vessel which meters process water to a concrete batch mixing plant for use in concrete production processes, and a slurry retention vessel which collects stormwater, concrete truck washout, and other plant waste and wastewater for supply to the batch supply vessel when needed. The retention vessel, which may be no more than a waste pit, includes a fluid supply circuit which supplies water and suspended solids to the batch supply vessel, and a recirculation circuit which collects water and suspended solids from the retention vessel (or from the supply circuit) and reinjects the collected water and solids back into the retention vessel to agitate settled solids back into suspensions (so that they may be taken up by the supply circuit). As a result, the retention vessel will empty itself of accumulated water and waste solids and supply them (via the batch supply vessel) to the concrete batch mixing plant for recycling, rather than requiring the cost and inconvenient of periodic manual emptying.

1. A reclamation system for concrete slurry components comprising:
 a. a slurry retention vessel; 
 b. a slurry batch supply vessel including an agitator therein; 
 c. a supply circuit wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 d. a recirculation circuit including an inlet and an outlet, wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel at the inlet and returned to the slurry retention vessel at the outlet, and wherein the outlet extends into the retention vessel and is directed to eject water at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the bottom of the slurry retention vessel; 
 e. a concrete batch mixing plant; and 
 f. a plant line leading from the slurry batch supply vessel to the concrete batch mixing plant, 
 
     wherein the flow of water is selectively divertable between the supply circuit and recirculation circuit, thereby allowing:
 (1) flow of water through the recirculation circuit to at least partially mix any contents of the slurry retention vessel, and 
 (2) subsequent flow of water and mixed slurry retention vessel contents through the supply circuit from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel. 
 
   
   
     2. The reclamation system of  claim 1  wherein the plant line includes a recycling line extending therefrom to reenter the slurry batch supply vessel, whereby any contents of the slurry batch supply vessel traveling through the plant line may be at least partially returned to the slurry batch supply vessel. 
   
   
     3. A reclamation system for concrete slurry components comprising:
 a. slurry retention vessel having an open top; 
 b. a slurry batch supply vessel including an agitator therein; 
 c. a supply circuit wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 d. a recirculation circuit including an inlet and an outlet, wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel at the inlet and returned to the slurry retention vessel at the outlet, and wherein the outlet extends into the retention vessel and is directed to eject water at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the bottom of the slurry retention vessel; 
 
     wherein the flow of water is selectively divertable between the supply circuit and recirculation circuit, thereby allowing:
 (1) flow of water through the recirculation circuit to at least partially mix any contents of the slurry retention vessel, and 
 (2) subsequent flow of water and mixed slurry retention vessel contents through the supply circuit from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel, and 
 
     wherein the slurry retention vessel has no conduits withdrawing water therefrom, save for any conduits included in the supply circuit and recirculation circuit. 
   
   
     4. The reclamation system of  claim 3  wherein the batch supply vessel is fully enclosed. 
   
   
     5. A reclamation system for concrete slurry components comprising:
 a. a slurry retention vessel including a sunken pit having an open top; 
 b. a slurry supply vessel including the agitator therein; 
 c. a supply circuit wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 d. a recirculation circuit including an inlet and an outlet, wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel at the inlet and returned to the slurry retention vessel at the outlet, and wherein the outlet extends into the retention vessel and is directed to eject water at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the bottom of the slurry retention vessel; 
 
     wherein the flow of water is selectively divertable between the supply circuit and recirculation circuit, thereby allowing:
 (1) flow of water through the recirculation circuit to at least partially mix any contents of the slurry retention vessel, and 
 (2) subsequent flow of water and mixed slurry retention vessel contents through the supply circuit from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel. 
 
   
   
     6. The reclamation system of  claim 5  wherein the batch supply vessel is fully enclosed. 
   
   
     7. A reclamation system for concrete slurry components comprising:
 a. a slurry retention vessel; 
 b. a slurry batch supply vessel including an agitator therein; 
 c. a supply circuit including a supply line having:
 i. a supply line inlet at the slurry retention vessel, and 
 ii. a downstream supply line outlet at the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 
 d. a recirculation circuit including
 i. a portion of the supply line upstream from the supply line outlet, and 
 ii. a recirculation line including:
 (1) an inlet wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel, 
 (2) an outlet through which water is returned to the slurry retention vessel, and wherein the outlet extends into the slurry retention vessel and is directed to eject water at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the bottom of the slurry retention vessel, and 
 (3) a recirculation valve therein; 
 
 
 
     wherein the flow of water is selectively divertable between the supply circuit and recirculation circuit, thereby allowing:
 (1) flow of water through the recirculation circuit to at least partially mix any contents of the slurry retention vessel, and 
 (2) subsequent flow of water and mixed slurry retention vessel contents through the supply circuit from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel. 
 
   
   
     8. The reclamation system of  claim 7  further comprising a supply valve situated between the supply line inlet and the supply line outlet, wherein:
 a. the recirculation circuit includes a portion of the supply line upstream from the supply valve; 
 b. the recirculation valve may be opened to provide water through the recirculation circuit, and 
 c. the supply valve may be opened to provide water and mixed slurry retention vessel contents through the supply circuit. 
 
   
   
     9. A reclamation system for concrete slurry components comprising:
 a. a slurry retention vessel; 
 b. a slurry batch supply vessel including an agitator therein; 
 c. a supply circuit including a supply line having:
 i. a supply line inlet at the slurry retention vessel, 
 ii. a downstream supply line outlet at the slurry batch supply vessel, and 
 iii. a supply valve therebetween; 
 wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 
 d. a recirculation circuit including:
 i. a portion of the supply line upstream from the supply valve, and 
 ii. a recirculation line including:
 (1) an inlet wherein water is provided from the slurry retention vessel, 
 (2) an outlet through which water is returned to the slurry retention vessel, wherein the outlet extends into the retention vessel and is directed to eject water at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the bottom of the slurry retention vessel, and 
 (3) a recirculation valve therein, 
 
 
 
     wherein the recirculation valve may be opened to provide water through the recirculation circuit, and the supply valve may be opened to provide water and mixed slurry retention vessel contents through the supply circuit, and 
     wherein the flow of water if selectively divertable between the supply circuit and recirculation circuit, thereby allowing:
 (1) flow of water through the recirculation circuit to at least partially mix any contents of the slurry retention vessel, and 
 (2) subsequent flow of water and mixed slurry retention vessel contents through the supply circuit from the slurry retention vessel to the slurry batch supply vessel. 
 
   
   
     10. A reclamation system for slurry components of a concrete batch mixing plant, the reclamation system comprising:
 a. a slurry retention vessel, the slurry retention vessel being defined by a sunken pit; 
 b. a slurry batch supply vessel including an agitator therein; 
 c. a recirculation circuit wherein water is provided from and returned to the slurry retention vessel; 
 d. a supply line outlet extending from the recirculation circuit, through which water provided from the recirculation circuit may be diverted to the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 e. a plant line leading from the slurry batch supply vessel to the concrete batch mixing plant. 
 
   
   
     11. The reclamation system of  claim 10  wherein:
 a. the recirculation circuit includes:
 i. a portion of a supply line, the supply line extending from a supply line inlet at the slurry retention vessel to the supply line outlet; 
 ii. a recirculation line extending from the supply line to the slurry retention vessel; 
 
 b. the recirculation circuit further comprises a recirculation valve therein, and 
 c. closure of the recirculation valve effects the flow of water through the supply line outlet. 
 
   
   
     12. The reclamation system of  claim 11  wherein the supply line includes a supply valve downstream from the recirculation circuit. 
   
   
     13. The reclamation system of  claim 12  wherein closure of the supply valve effects the flow of water through the recirculation circuit. 
   
   
     14. The reclamation system of  claim 11  wherein:
 a. the slurry retention vessel has an open top, and 
 b. the slurry batch supply vessel is at least substantially closed. 
 
   
   
     15. The reclamation system of  claim 14  wherein the slurry retention vessel is situated below grade. 
   
   
     16. The reclamation system of  claim 10  wherein recirculation circuit includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein:
 a. water is provided from the slurry retention vessel at the inlet and returned to the slurry retention vessel at the outlet, and 
 b. the outlet extends into the retention vessel and is directed to eject water at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the bottom of the slurry retention vessel. 
 
   
   
     17. A reclamation system for slurry components comprising:
 a. a slurry retention vessel; 
 b. a slurry batch vessel including an agitator therein; 
 c. a supply line including:
 i. a supply line inlet opening onto the slurry retention vessel; 
 ii. a supply pump downstream from the supply line inlet; 
 iii. a supply valve downstream from the supply pump; and 
 iv. a supply line outlet opening onto the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 
 d. a recirculation line including:
 i. a recirculation line inlet on the supply line upstream from the supply valve; 
 ii. a recirculation valve downstream from the recirculation line inlet; and 
 iii. a recirculation line outlet opening onto the slurry retention vessel; 
 
 e. a concrete batch mixing plant; and 
 f. a plant line leading from the slurry batch supply vessel to the concrete batch mixing plant, 
 
     wherein the system includes the following states:
 (1) a stirring state wherein the supply pump is active with the supply valve closed and the recirculation valve is open, whereby fluid within the slurry retention vessel is circulated through the supply line and recirculation line; 
 (2) a charging state wherein the supply pump is active with the supply valve open and the recirculation valve is closed, whereby fluid within the slurry retention vessel is provided through the supply line to the slurry batch supply vessel. 
 
   
   
     18. A reclamation system for slurry components comprising:
 a. a slurry retention vessel including an open-topped pit; 
 b. a slurry batch supply vessel including an agitator therein; 
 c. a supply line including:
 i. a supply line inlet opening onto the slurry retention vessel; 
 ii. a supply pump downstream from the supply line inlet; 
 iii. a supply valve downstream from the supply pump; and 
 iv. a supply line outlet opening onto the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 
 d. a recirculation line including:
 i. a recirculation line inlet on the supply line upstream from the supply valve; 
 ii. a recirculation valve downstream from the recirculation line inlet; and 
 iii. a recirculation line outlet opening onto the slurry retention vessel; 
 
 
     wherein the system includes the following states;
 (1) a stirring state wherein the supply pump is active with the supply valve closed and the recirculation valve is open, whereby fluid within the slurry retention vessel is circulated through the supply line and recirculation line; 
 (2) a charging state wherein the supply pump is active with the supply valve open and the recirculation valve is closed, whereby fluid within the slurry retention vessel is provided through the supply line to the slurry batch supply vessel. 
 
   
   
     19. The reclamation system of  claim 18  wherein the batch supply vessel is fully enclosed. 
   
   
     20. A reclamation system for slurry components comprising:
 a. a slurry retention vessel; 
 b. a slurry batch vessel including an agitator therein; 
 c. a supply line including:
 i. a supply line inlet opening onto the slurry retention vessel; 
 ii. a supply pump downstream from the supply line inlet; 
 iii. a supply valve downstream from the supply pump; and 
 iv. a supply line outlet opening onto the slurry batch supply vessel; 
 
 d. a recirculation line including:
 i. a recirculation line inlet on the supply line upstream from the supply valve; 
 ii. a recirculation valve downstream from the recirculation line inlet; and 
 iii. a recirculation line outlet opening onto the slurry retention vessel, wherein the recirculation line outlet extends into the retention vessel and is directed to eject water at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the bottom of the slurry retention vessel; 
 
 
     wherein the system includes the following states;
 (1) a stirring state wherein the supply pump is active with the supply valve closed and the recirculation valve is open, whereby fluid within the slurry retention vessel is circulated through the supply line and recirculation line; 
 (2) a charging state wherein the supply pump is active with the supply valve open and the recirculation valve is closed, whereby fluid within the slurry retention vessel is provided through the supply line to the slurry batch supply vessel.